This week we feature vintage sewing blogger and CraftFoxes user Stacey Stitch. Stacey has a very simple mission on her website: make sewing simple. Stacey is a dyslexic seamstress, and so she tries to make sewing patterns easier for seamstresses who might also be in her situation. On her site, Stacey showcases outfits that she’s sewn for herself and different sewing projects that she’s working on. Here on CraftFoxes, Stacey has posted several vintage style dresses. We asked Stacey some questions and here is what she had to say.

Can you tell us a little bit about your blog and when you started it?

I started my blog in May 2013. What I really wanted to do more than anything was make my own clothes. I very much love vintage, but I can’t afford to buy the pieces I love with the huge price tags. So, I thought, why not make my own? As many people will know, sewing is daunting to a complete novice; looking at a pattern when you’ve never seen one before is incredibly off-putting.

I also found that being a dyslexic seamstress means it is quite difficult for me to understand instructions and it’s easy for me to become confused and frustrated at times, so my mission is straightforward: make sewing simple.

I aim to help others in a similar position and show you don’t have to be put off by long paragraphs and lengthy explanations. I don’t pretend to know everything about sewing but I hope that what I write is interesting, helpful or at least entertaining. In my blog you can find items I have made for myself and others, struggles I have found the solutions to, reviews of places I have visited and books I’ve read.

I’ve found the online sewing community very welcoming and it really has given me a boost to know that there is a group of like-minded sewing folk out there willing to help me with anything I might need, helping me to become better at sewing and in turn helping those who may be starting out as I was.

What is one of your favorite projects you've ever made?

I am really proud of the late 50s wrap dress I made, which was one of the first projects on my blog. I had sewn a little (but not much before) and it really came together, giving me confidence in my own abilities of choosing fabrics for fantastic styling. I love original Swirl wrap dresses but they’re so expensive to buy and they’re snapped up very quickly on sites like Etsy, so it was such an amazing feeling to make a wrap dress that is similar for much cheaper. I always get complimented when I wear it.

Where do you find inspiration for your creative projects?

I’d be lying if I didn’t say Mad Men had a lot to do with the colours and shapes I often look to when I start a project and, in particular, the character of Joan Holloway. She has it all: class, style and elegance while still looking hot! There’s a fantastic Museum, the Gallery of Costume, a few minutes walk from my home and I often go to look at the exhibitions to get a little inspiration. They recently had a Dior New Look exhibition with some stunningly beautiful pieces. It’s great to look in books but seeing pieces close up you can really admire the detail. I love the New Look era of dresses, but I always sway more to the late 50s/60s rather than the earlier pieces.

Which of your craft projects took the longest to finish?

I’m currently working on a 60s pussy bow blouse which has taken me a much longer time than I planned. It’s the first time I’ve done full length sleeves with cuffs and setting them in has been a nightmare. Top that off with the fact I forgot to source matching buttons; it means it’s still on my dressform but I will have it completed soon and uploaded onto CraftFoxes when I’m done!

Describe your personal style in 3 words.

Vintage, home-made, colourful.

When I'm not crafting, I can be found . . .

Watching films; camping in the countryside; hanging out with friends or reading a good book.

If you were to be cast on a reality TV show, which one would you choose and why?

The Great British Sewing Bee, for obvious reasons! It’s a fantastic series and I absolutely adore it. People keep telling me to apply but I’m not sure if I’m cut out for competitions. Give me a couple more years though and who knows?

Each week, we feature a CraftFoxes member who is doing great work! Want to be featured right here? Upload your favorite craft projects today. If we choose you as next week’s featured member, we’ll send you a CraftFoxes T-shirt, and we'll link to your blog or handmade shop!